Hechos 16:15

15 Fue bautizada junto con otros miembros de su casa y nos invitó a que fuéramos sus huéspedes. «Si ustedes reconocen que soy una verdadera creyente en el Señor —dijo ella—, vengan a quedarse en mi casa». Y nos insistió hasta que aceptamos.

Hechos 16:15 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 16:15

And when she was baptized
In water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, according to the commission of Christ, by the apostle, or some one of his companions; by whom she was instructed into the nature and use of this ordinance; and very likely it was performed in that river, by the side of which the oratory stood, where they were assembled:

and her household;
they were baptized also, being converted at the same time; these seem to be her menial servants, who came along with her from her native place upon business, and who attended on her; accordingly the Ethiopic version renders it, "and she was baptized with all her men"; and these were believers, and are called "the brethren", ( Acts 16:40 ) hence this passage will by no means serve the cause of infant baptism: whether Lydia was a maid, a wife, or widow, cannot be said; it looks, however, as if she had no husband now, since she is mentioned as a trader herself; and whether she had any children or not, is not certain, nor can it be concluded from this clause, for there are many households that have no children; and if she had young children, it is not likely she should bring them with her to such a distant place, whither she was come upon trade and business: the pleaders for infant baptism must prove that she had children; that these were her household, or part of her household here spoken of; and that they were baptized; or this instance will be of no service to their cause:

she besought us, saying, if ye have judged me to be faithful to the
Lord;
this she said, not as doubting whether they had so judged of her, but as supposing it, and taking it for granted, that they had; wherefore she reasons upon it, and argues from it; and the sense is this, that seeing the apostle and his company had judged her to be a believer in Christ, by admitting her to the ordinance of baptism; and she had shown her faithfulness to him, by submitting to it, according to his will; therefore she earnestly entreated them to take up their residence at her house, whilst at Philippi: saying,

come into my house, and abide there;
her faith soon worked by love; and by the fruits of righteousness which followed upon it, it appeared to be true and genuine: and she constrained us; Paul and Silas, and Timothy and Luke, and whoever else were in company; she not only invited them, but obliged them to go with her; she would take no denial, and by her arguments, entreaties, and importunity, as it were forced them, and prevailed upon them to go with her.

Hechos 16:15 In-Context

13 El día de descanso nos alejamos un poco de la ciudad y fuimos a la orilla de un río, donde pensamos que la gente se reuniría para orar, y nos sentamos a hablar con unas mujeres que se habían congregado allí.

14 Una de ellas era Lidia, de la ciudad de Tiatira, una comerciante de tela púrpura muy costosa, quien adoraba a Dios. Mientras nos escuchaba, el Señor abrió su corazón y ella aceptó lo que Pablo decía.

15 Fue bautizada junto con otros miembros de su casa y nos invitó a que fuéramos sus huéspedes. «Si ustedes reconocen que soy una verdadera creyente en el Señor —dijo ella—, vengan a quedarse en mi casa». Y nos insistió hasta que aceptamos.

16 Pablo y Silas en la cárcel
Cierto día, cuando íbamos al lugar de oración, nos encontramos con una joven esclava que estaba poseída por un demonio. Era una adivina que ganaba mucho dinero para sus amos.

17 Ella seguía a Pablo y también al resto de nosotros, gritando: «Estos hombres son siervos del Dios Altísimo y han venido para decirles cómo ser salvos».